Tropical Depression Two expected to become a tropical storm today

Tropical Depression Two is expected to become a tropical storm later today. An Air Force Hunter aircraft is investigating the system.

The storm, which is about 180 km south of Panama City, Florida, has winds of 55 km/h and is currently moving northwest at 6 km/h.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Ochlockonee River to the Mississippi/Alabama border.

The tropical depression is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches with locally higher totals around 6 inches through Friday along the Gulf Coast and adjacent inland locations from western Florida to the Middle Texas Coast, including southern portions of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

Storm surge of 1 to 3 feet is possible for Indian Pass to Chassahowitzka, Mississippi to Alabama Border to the Alabama/Florida Border, and Mobile Bay.

Swells generated by the depression are affecting portions of the Gulf coast of Florida and are likely to spread westward during the week.